Africa Growth Pilot/Live Tutorials on Core Policies/Module1

Module 1: Preparing to participate in Wikimedia projects

Rationale

A common pitfall many newbies fall into when approaching a new adventure/hobby/undertaking is to jump right into the thick of things without doing a thorough and honest assessment about their own state of preparedness to begin this new thing, often leading to disappointment and disillusionment at the first sign of difficulty.

Contributing in Wikimedia projects is not an easy and straightforward activity, and what is more, like many other knowledge based human endeavors, despite being open to everyone, not everyone will find its demands to their liking, or its joys motivating.

This module aims to prepare learners psychologically for working collaboratively online (and sometimes alone), with people they don't know, who may edit under a pseudonym, who may be in positions of power (admins), while navigating policies that are hard to grasp at first glance, and that can be frustrating or counter-intuitive.

The module seeks to inculcate a constructive attitude and stance, which would maximize the chances of the learner's successful integration in Wikimedia projects, as a contributor finding joy and fulfillment in their volunteer work.

Goal

Learners understand their motivations for participating in Wikimedia projects and are prepared to work with others and have the aptitude to navigate written policies.

Time frame

One 90 minute session.

Outline

Introduction to the course, context of the program, introducing the course team
Exercise 1: “Finding your why” - A short survey / word map / Ahaslides for learners + personal motivation drafting
- Discussion of learner answers: the discussion will help learners understand that the reasons for participating in Wikimedia movement can be very varied across the practical and altruistic spectrum. Learners are encouraged to keep this in mind, so that they can draw patience and strength from their primary motivation when things don't pan out according to their expectations.
What is it like to contribute to Wikimedia?
- "A day in the life" of several Wikipedia editors - Examples of how editors prepare for their editing activities, what actions they perform, how long they take, and how it makes them feel. [Relevant real-life examples by SSA editors (Casual and very active editors), and it would be good to have at least 3 examples in video format]
Wiki-etiquette: collaborating with others on-wiki
- What does working with others on a wiki look like? "Why can't we discuss this over Telegram/WhatsApp/Facebook?"
- Assume Good Faith and Be Bold.
- Be polite and discuss with other editors. When problems arise, discuss them and try to work them out calmly.
- Take advice. If someone points out a mistake you made, thank them for telling you and don't take it badly.
- Warnings. If you receive a warning message, think carefully about what it says. Make sure you understand what you're being warned about, and ask for clarifications if you don't.
- Don't forget to thank users who are helpful to your work!
Wikis work through policies, not hierarchies
- Policies are ways to enforce norms and settle disputes without appealing to a central authority.
- Policies are created and revised by the community; decisions are made by those who show up.
- A review of “terms of use” describing what a user is agreeing to when they come to wikimedia projects
- A brief review of types of policies available on wikimedia projects:
  - Behavior policies (or conduct) are the standards set for behavior on Wikimedia projects to make it a pleasant experience for everyone. (An overview of UCoC guidelines and how they work to provide them a safe contributing space)
  - Content policies define which topics are welcome on Wikimedia projects, and provide the standards for quality.
  - Deletion and Enforcement policies deal with page deletion: the how-to, whys and why-nots. what actions editors can take to enforce other policies.
  - Legal and copyright policies are the law-based rules about what material may be used here, and the remedies for misuse.
Exercise 2: “Wiki-etiquette”
- An exercise to discover what behavior learners think is okay vs not okay on wiki.
“Some practical advice before you dive in”
- Some people benefit from planning work in advance; others flourish by following whatever strikes their interest in the moment. Figure out what works best for you.
- Learn the platform and use your sandbox!
- Remember you cannot break a wiki! You can, however, ruin your wiki-reputation.